Hartlepool Council Plans to Convert Family Home into Children's Care Home – Smart Move or a Controversial Decision?
- teessidetoday
- Feb 20
- 2 min read
Plans have been submitted that could see a five bedroomed family home converted into a childrens care facility looking after up to three children under council care.
20th Feb 2025
A five-bedroom family home in Hartlepool could soon be transformed into a council operated children's care home under new proposals submitted by Hartlepool Borough Council.
The council has applied for a change of use of a property in Fenton Road in the Owton Manor Area of Hartlepool to accommodate up to three looked-after children, with the council aiming to reduce reliance on costly private-sector placements.
A New Approach to Children's Care?
The proposed care home, located on Fenton Road, Hartlepool, would operate as a ‘family home’ for up to three young people, each with their own bedroom and shared living spaces.
According to the planning statement, the children will live in a structured environment similar to a traditional family setting, attending school, taking part in daily chores, and engaging in household activities.
Hartlepool Borough Council would reportedly manage and operate the home, with a staff team caring for the children on a shift basis, with Two staff members remaining overnight, and additional professionals, such as social workers and Ofsted inspectors to make periodic visits. The application also states staff shift changes would occur mid-morning to minimise disruption in the neighbourhood.
Tackling the Cost of Private Care Placements
One of the key motivations said to be behind this move appears to be the soaring cost of private sector care placements, which have been described as financially crippling for the local council. Hartlepool’s Labour MP, Jonathan Brash, recently claimed that some private care providers charge the local council which in 2023 was declared an authority of no public confidence up to £10,000 per day for each looked-after child.
He argued that these excessive fees were effectively "bankrupting Hartlepool Borough Council."
By opening its own small-scale care homes, the council aims to cut costs and provide a more stable, community-based environment for vulnerable children.
Public Consultation & Decision Timeline
The planning application, listed under reference H/2025/0047, now available for public viewing on the council’s online planning portal, with a decision on whether the proposal's are approved expected sometime in April 2025.
